protege421
Member
- :
- Protege ES 2003
Hello fellow proud mazda owners!
I was planning to replace my brake pads today.
However, I just spent the last 4 hours trying to pry open the passenger side read caliper with no success.
I drive a Protege ES 03. The rear calipers only have one sliding pin, the other "pin" actually acts like a swing arm.
Anyways, I remove the wheel, loosened the upper sliding pin and could not get the caliper to swing open.
My best guess is rust? The last guy that did my brake pads was not a certified mechanic, just a friend of a friend that would do it for a low price (the price we pay...). This was about 2 years ago. I didn't see any of the work he did. But i get the impression he did not apply any grease or lubricant anywhere on the caliper as the upper pin was bone dry when i pulled it out...
Any ideas on how i can get the caliper to swing open?
I've tried opening the bleeder valve and the master cylinder cap to relive pressure, then tried prying it again, no success. Even applied a torch to the caliper (careful not to burn any sensitive areas) and sprayed some PBlaster under the boot of the lower "swing arm" and outside the pads where they meet with the caliper, nothing.
At this point I am beat and defeated. Tomorrow is Saturday so I'm planning to give it another go.
Any tips or help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
I was planning to replace my brake pads today.
However, I just spent the last 4 hours trying to pry open the passenger side read caliper with no success.
I drive a Protege ES 03. The rear calipers only have one sliding pin, the other "pin" actually acts like a swing arm.
Anyways, I remove the wheel, loosened the upper sliding pin and could not get the caliper to swing open.
My best guess is rust? The last guy that did my brake pads was not a certified mechanic, just a friend of a friend that would do it for a low price (the price we pay...). This was about 2 years ago. I didn't see any of the work he did. But i get the impression he did not apply any grease or lubricant anywhere on the caliper as the upper pin was bone dry when i pulled it out...
Any ideas on how i can get the caliper to swing open?
I've tried opening the bleeder valve and the master cylinder cap to relive pressure, then tried prying it again, no success. Even applied a torch to the caliper (careful not to burn any sensitive areas) and sprayed some PBlaster under the boot of the lower "swing arm" and outside the pads where they meet with the caliper, nothing.
At this point I am beat and defeated. Tomorrow is Saturday so I'm planning to give it another go.
Any tips or help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Last edited: